Thomas Nelson

Notes:

Mary Beth Wheeler notes:

Thomas Nelson was one of the earliest settlers in Middleboro, having originally purchased land in 1714 and settled there in 1717. He was one of the first of the Calvinist Baptist denomination in Middleboro, being a member of the Swansey Church, the first Baptist Church in America. ("The Peirce Family," Ebenezer W. Peirce, 1870). His wife was Hope "Higgins," according to this text.

From William Richard Cutter, New England Families Genealogical and Memorial, First Series, Vol. I, (NY: 1913; repr. Baltimore: 1996, 1997 for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.), pg. 855:

"Thomas, son of William (2) Nelson (one account makes him son of John, brother of William), was born June 6, 1675 (also given May 7). He was perhaps the first white settler in Lakeville, part of Middleborough. He bought the homestead on Assawaupet Neck and moved thither in 1717. When he was a baby he was taken to Plymouth with the family in 1675 to escape the horrors of the Indian war. He joined the Swansea church and every Saturday used to travel twenty miles with his family, returning Monday morning. While at Swansea he occupied a small house that he built for the purpose. He is said to have been the first Baptist church member to live in Middleborough. Part of his farm is still in the possession of descendants, between Long Pond and Assawamscott. When he located there Indians owned the land on each side of his farm.

"He married Hope Hutchins, a woman of strong character. Once when she was alone in the house, hearing a noise in the cellar, she descended in the dark and caught an Indian who was glad to escape from her grasp with no worse injury than torn clothing, after a frantic struggle with his unknown assailant. She joined the Baptist church at Swansea, August 5, 1723, and afterward became a member of the Baptist church of Middleborough, where she attended communion in her one hundred and fourth year. Among her three hundred and thirty-seven descendants when she died were three Baptist ministers. Thomas Nelson died March 28, 1755."

Thomas married Hope Huckins on 24 Mar 1697 in Barnstable, MA. Hope (daughter of John Huckins and Hope Chipman) was born on 10 May 1677 in Barnstable, MA; died on 7 Dec 1782 in Barnstable, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hannah Nelson was born on 10 Apr 1699 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died after 1738 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.

William married Ruth Foxwell. Ruth (daughter of Richard Foxwell and Ann Shelley) was born on 25 Mar 1641 in Barnstable, MA; was christened on 4 Apr 1641; died on 7 Sep 1726 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigrated: Bef 1633, America

Notes:

From "The Nelsons of Lakeville, MA"

Born apparently in England early in the 17th century, William Nelson emigrated to Plymouth, but the date of his arrival and the ship on which he arrived has never been definitely established. What is fact is that he arrived in New England some time prior to 1633 as an unmarried young man unaccompanied by any relatives and no clue as to his English forebears or home or his exact date or boat of arrival have been proven.

The first provable data as to William Nelson's being in Plymouth is found in the Plymouth Records in an entry on page 62. This entry is under the date of a meeting held February 1633 and reads "Thirty acres of land is graunted unto William Nelson lying on the North side of Jonses River Meddow on both sides of the brooke that goes from Mr. Joseph Bradfords; so as it be not prejudiciall to the naighbours".

The next provable record is in Plymouth Records Vol. 1.

"The last day of March 1637 William Nelson is hyred to keep the cowes this year at the same wages he had the last year which is 50 bushels of Indian corne and is to keep them until the middle of November next."

History tells us that in the early days, the only cows in the Plymouth Colony were those brought by the Pilgrims in the ships in which they came. Being limited in number, cows were made common property, which practice prevailed until the number had increased sufficiently to permit distribution for individual ownership. These "common property" cows being of real value as a necessity of life had to be regularly accounted for through a "Keeper". This was obviously a position of importance and trust. William Nelson apparently had proven himself worthy and to be trusted when appointed "Keeper of the Cows."
William Nelson was made a "Townsman" in Plymouth in 1640.

This appears to have been his next step forward in the Colony, for records are found in Plymouth, Middleborough and other towns of men being accepted as "Townsman"--the wording usually being: "The Towne being met together at the house of _______ do joyntly agree by their vote to accept ______ as a townsman and have the privileges of same". Being accepted as "Townsman" should not be confused with being admitted as a "Freeman" because the former appears to be limited to "residennce as an inhabitant."

Not all persons were admitted as even a townsman, because other entries appear under the heading of: "Townsman/men denied" with the entry reading "at a town meeting held this day ____ was denied by the proprietors and inhabitants of our Towne any residence within our Towne as an inhabitant amongst us and he have been warned out several times as the law directs."

Being a "Townsman" bore a stamp of good standing, but not the privelege of voting in Town meetings reserved to "Freemen."

The next entry found is of William Nelson acquiring moreland. In the Records of the Colony of New Plymouth Court orders, Vol. 1, 1633 - 1640 at a Court of Assistant held August 1, 1640, there is the following record:

"Wiltm Nelson is graunted six acrees of Upland; lying against John Cook's land in the newfield on the north side of Fresh Lake Brooke." This grant seems to be the beginning of the Nelson farm, as shown on the map of Plymouth 1701.

This year, 1640, also marked the event of his marriage on 29 October to Martha Ford, the first white girl born in Plymouth. Martha was the daughter of widow Martha Ford who is listed as a passenger on the Fortune of London (55 tons), Thomas Barton, Master; out of London early July 1621, arriving Plymouth November 11, with "35 persons who remaine and live in ye plantation." She is listed Ford, Mrs. Martha--probably of London-- "delivered of a sonne the first night she landed, and both are doing very well--widow of leather dresser of Southwark, who evidently died at sea". Three children are then listed, William, Martha and John with the latter's life span given as 1621 - 1693.

There is a conflict as to the date of Martha's birth but the weight of evidence indicates it was Martha and not John who was born just after the Widow Ford landed.

The latter was married again in 1623 to Peter Brown. It is reported there were several children, but their identity presents a problem as some were her children by her first marriage, some by her second and others by Peter Brown's second marriage, but the data as to her having by her first marriage a daughter, Martha, who was married to William Nelson seems established beyond doubt.

William married Martha Ford, "first white girl born in Plymouth" on 29 Oct 1640 in Plymouth, MA. Martha (daughter of William Ford, of the "Fortune" and Martha, of the "Fortune") was born about 1619 in Plymouth, MA; died on 20 Dec 1683 in Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From "The Nelsons of Lakeville, MA"

This year, 1640, also marked the event of his marriage on 29 October to Martha Ford, the first white girl born in Plymouth. Martha was the daughter of widow Martha Ford who is listed as a passenger on the Fortune of London (55 tons), Thomas Barton, Master; out of London early July 1621, arriving Plymouth November 11, with "35 persons who remaine and live in ye plantation." She is listed Ford, Mrs. Martha--probably of London-- "delivered of a sonne the first night she landed, and both are doing very well--widow of leather dresser of Southwark, who evidently died at sea". Three children are then listed, William, Martha and John with the latter's life span given as 1621 - 1693.

There is a conflict as to the date of Martha's birth but the weight of evidence indicates it was Martha and not John who was born just after the Widow Ford landed.

The latter was married again in 1623 to Peter Brown. It is reported there were several children, but their identity presents a problem as some were her children by her first marriage, some by her second and others by Peter Brown's second marriage, but the data as to her having by her first marriage a daughter, Martha, who was married to William Nelson seems established beyond doubt.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigrated: America

Notes:

Mary Beth Wheeler notes:

"Richard Foxwell, according to Savage, probably came in the fleet with Gov. Winthrop and requested admission as Freeman 19 Oct 1630; he was sworn 18 May 1631. He removed to Scituate and was there by 1634, if not earlier. He married Ann Shelley in 1634; she came over that year as a servant, per Roxbury church records. Richard was one of the first founders of the church at Scituate with Rev. John Lothop 8 Jan 1635, although the births of the children Savage lists are recorded at Barnstable. He removed to Barnstable before April, 1641."

"New England Gleanings," in English Origins of New England Families CD, Series 1, Vol. 3, pg. 627 relates that on 2 July 1664 a Richard Foxwell of Black Point (Scarborough, Maine), gentleman, and John his son of the same place, carpenter, sell one half in common in certain lands to George Foxwell in the City of Exon in Deavon [sic] in England, merchant. This is NOT the same Richard Foxwell; the ME man died before 6 Nov. 1677 when his estate was administered by son Philip. See Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, page 244"

Richard married Ann Shelley on 14 Mar 1635 in Scituate, Plymouth, MA. Ann was born in England; died in Barnstable, Barnstable, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigrated: America

Notes:

Mary Beth Wheeler Notes:

"Ann Shelly a maide servant she came to the Land in the years 1632, & was mjarried to [Richard] Foxall (sic) a godly brother of the church of Situate (sic)." (from "The Rev. John Eliot's Record of Church Members, Roxbury, Mass." NEHGS "Register," Vol 35, pg. 241.) May have been daughter of Robert & Judith (Garnet), but more likely sister of Robert.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigrated: 1621, America; on the sailing vessel "Fortune"

Notes:

He came over on the Fortune  -  presumably died shortly thereafter - TAG 56:32-35

William married Martha, of the "Fortune" about 1604. Martha was born in England; died after 22 May 1627 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigrated: 1621, Plymouth, MA; on the sailing vessel "Fortune"